Frimley man leading calls to protect pygmy elephants in Borneo

Conservationist and wildlife TV presenter Nicholas Daines, from Frimley, pictured with four-month-old Buddha, one of several orphaned pygmy elephant babies being cared for at the Borneo Elephant Care Centre, where he is making a documentary

A Frimley conservationist who has documented the plight of orangutans in Borneo is now helping another threatened species – pygmy elephants.

Model, stuntman and wildlife TV presenter Nicholas Daines has been the face of a documentary series exploring the work of Surrey-based charity Orangutan Appeal UK (OAUK) to rehabilitate and release orphaned orangutans in the jungles of Borneo.

After learning that pygmy elephants faced similar threats from loss of habitat and conflict with man, he agreed to make another film on behalf of the Malaysian government and wildlife protection officials in the region of Sabbah.

Mr Daines said the killing of elephants in the region is "rapidly escalating" and that, although the species is protected by law, the number of orphaned Borneo pygmy elephants is rising at an "alarming rate".

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Animal happy endings

He said this presented a major challenge for the authorities and staff at the Borneo Elephant Care Centre (BECC), to provide the orphaned babies with enough suitable milk replacement to keep them alive.

The BECC rescued two baby pygmy elephants in 2013, three in 2014 and a record of eight orphans in 2015. Two more elephants were rescued in February this year.

The cost of providing enough milk formula to feed just one baby elephant costs £1,000 a month. A tonne of milk formula is needed each month to feed the orphans at the BECC.

Conservationist Nicholas Daines, from Frimley, warns that the number of orphaned pygmy elephants is rising at an 'alarming rate'

“I’m working with a very professional and hard working team of veterinarians and rangers from the Sabbah Wildlife Rescue Unit,” Mr Daines said.

“We spend 24 hours a day nursing, feeding and playing surrogate mother to these poor babies.

“The day-to-day tasks of looking after these babies are endless, and the highs and lows exhausting. We’re working tirelessly to help every elephant that comes through our door.

“These are the cutest, most charismatic orphans you could ever hope to meet.

“Their baby faces, over-sized ears, plump bellies and long tails make them look like something out of a Disney movie. They desperately need our help.”

He explained that all of the orphans had been rescued in areas of known conflict between elephants and man, where shrinking forests are forcing elephants into villages and onto farm land and plantations seeking the fruit of the palm oil plant.